"There's no question that Duke will have some need for interior presence help even with ...MP2 returning."
JNort,
I have no interest in reopening a can of worms, but to address your questions: First, I just said "interior presence
help," not starter or star or anything like that. Second, there will obviously be games when MP2 is having a bad night or gets into foul issues, etc. and more help is needed. And (3rd) the streotypical 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 line-up has TWO players who represent "interior presence" -- the 5 and the 4. You're only looking at the 5, but there's 80 minutes in question that need coverage for "interior presence," not just 40. If/when Duke plays teams with strong interior capabilities, such as in the NCAAT, they are likely to see some squads with
two big interior guys (think Kerlina last year). Who covers the second for 40 minutes? Yes, MP2 is one body, but as you point out he won't play 40 minutes a game (much less 80), due to rests, fouls, injurues, situational needs, etc. RK is an awesome player but he's not what most would call a interior-oriented banger." AM and MP3 are inexperienced RSF's. So the clearly will be times, against the better opponents, where more interior depth will be in demand.
I have zero doubt that there will be some critical games next year where posters will come on DBR in droves post-game screaming bloody murder about the need for greater interior depth/recruiting, as we get badly outrebounded. Are there trade-offs? Certainly. Will K and staff be able to develop ways to cover up and work around a lack of interior depth? For sure. But it WILL be an issue in some games, and I don't see any analysts in 2012-13 regularly pointing to the interior positions as Duke's "strength," at least not as we are currently configured.
Hoping that we land at least one of the remaining (interior-capable) bigs - TP or AJ. It would certainly HELP to have that added depth in the 4/5-spots rotation...